What is handgonne?

A handgonne is an early form of firearm that was used in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is essentially a small, portable cannon that was fired by hand rather than mounted on a carriage like a larger cannon.

Handgonnes were typically loaded by placing gunpowder and a projectile, such as a lead ball, down the muzzle of the gun. The gunpowder was ignited by a match, which was a cord soaked in saltpeter and then ignited with a spark.

Handgonnes were relatively primitive weapons compared to later firearms, but they were effective at short range and could be used to devastating effect in battle. They were commonly used by infantry soldiers as a supplement to traditional weapons like swords and bows.

As firearms technology advanced, handgonnes eventually fell out of use in favor of more advanced firearms like muskets and rifles. Today, handgonnes are primarily used for historical reenactments and demonstrations of early firearm technology.